Chapter 244: Poor Li Ang, Being…

「……」

We two… did we pick up the wrong script?

Before coming over to break off the engagement, Li Ang had already prepared himself mentally; he had anticipated the Princess might flatly refuse, impose harsh conditions, or even resort to threats and bribes, and so on.

But what he never expected was that the Princess chose to "reason" with him—and even launched a confident, forceful pursuit of him…

Wait, can this even be called pursuit?

……

"I admit, if we absolutely had to choose right now, then we… are indeed quite compatible…"

Squeezed into the corner of the sofa by the Princess drawing ever closer, Li Ang shrank like a timid bride, yet with ironclad willpower he pulled his hand back and struggled to hold his ground:

"But I don't necessarily have to choose at all—not necessarily right now… Your Highness, you truly are excellent, but right now I still…"

"If you're not in a hurry to choose now, then why rush to reject me?"

Facing Li Ang's "last-ditch resistance," the Princess did not press hard; instead, she followed the military principle of "encircle three sides, leave one open," and offered him an escape route:

"I'm not forcing you to accept this marriage immediately—I simply don't want you to sever it too hastily."

"Li Ang, if you're not in a hurry to choose, then let's maintain our current state for now, spend more time together, deepen our understanding, and don't so easily reject fate's gift."

"You believe in fate?"

"I didn't before."

The Princess smiled:

"But since fate brought you to me, I'm willing to believe in her—just this once."

「……」

Stop it, stop it, I'm about to surrender already…

Faced with a Princess who shifted from soft persuasion to relentless persistence, then to awkward flirtation, Li Ang, steadily retreating, could no longer withstand her relentless assault and raised his hands in surrender:

"Then… let's leave it like this?"

"Then let's leave it like this."

Having successfully repelled Li Ang's attempt to break the engagement and reclaimed all lost ground, the Princess pulled up the shallow V-neck of her nightgown, sat upright, and cheerfully shifted the battlefield:

"Also, I haven't yet thanked you for helping me recover my identity. What kind of reward would you like for this?"

"No need for a reward…"

Hearing the Princess's words, Li Ang exhaled slightly in relief—then immediately grew wary again, waving his hands hastily:

"I'm a Clearance Officer. By agreement between the Clearance Bureau and royal houses of all nations, it's already my duty to ensure the safety of royal personnel, so…"

"The Clearance Officer's reward can be waived, but the Prince's reward must still be given."

「……」

Clearly enjoying Li Ang's reaction, the Princess, leaning sideways against the sofa back, smiled and extended her pale, delicate fingers into the neckline of her nightgown.

"Uh… I think I'll take my leave then."

"Why are you running?"

Laughing, she caught his wrist as he rose to leave, placed a slightly worn pendant into his palm, and softly murmured with nostalgia:

"This was a pendant my mother gave me… Don't worry, it's not one of those items that obligates you to marry me if you accept it—just a small blessing."

Gently closing her hand over his, she made him grip the pendant still warm from her body, then said with solemn sincerity:

"When my mother gave it to me, she hoped it would protect me and bring me peace and fortune. Now I give it to you—I hope it will protect your safety too."

"Thank you…"

After caressing the pendant—ordinary, possessing no special power, yet deeply warm—Li Ang, gazing at the Princess who had just ruthlessly manipulated him yet now appeared utterly sincere, hesitated, then spoke with uncertainty:

"Actually, if all you want is the Lyon family's inheritance, support from the Transportation Department and the Military, and a seat in the Upper Academy, you needn't necessarily marry me…"

"Li Ang, I must marry someone."

Before he could finish, the Princess cut in, fixing him with a serious gaze:

"This country cannot be entrusted to Joshua—he lacks the ability. So I must become, and I must be, the next Queen!"

"A stable household and heirs to carry on the royal bloodline are indispensable conditions for becoming Queen. Since I must marry and form a family, why not you?"

「……」

……

Assessing the progress of her "fishing," realizing the moment was ripe, the Princess—who had just pretended to retreat with "encircle three sides, leave one open"—immediately revealed her true nature and launched a ferocious full-scale assault!

"To be honest, before and after you inherited the title of Lionheart Duke, I thoroughly investigated you."

Again grasping Li Ang's hand, she openly confessed her surveillance, her expression tinged with memory:

"At the time, my goal was merely to reclaim some control over the Military after the Lyon family's fall—I had no other intentions toward you."

"But after you publicly proposed to me during your succession ceremony, I quickly realized—you were the ideal Prince I had always envisioned."

Looking at the slightly astonished Li Ang, the Princess softly voiced her assessment:

"Li Ang, you truly are excellent: diligent and reliable, emotionally steady, family-oriented, willing to shoulder responsibility, never abandoning your sick sister, risking your life to join the Clearance Bureau—where mortality is extremely high—to save her."

"And after joining, you've been conscientious and courageous, never retreating even under the greatest danger; during the feces incident, you tirelessly advocated for the victims, and you have almost no appetite for power—even the title of Duke left you unmoved…"

Ah…

Hearing the Princess's praise, Li Ang flushed red, embarrassed:

"I'm really not that good…"

"And you're also exceptionally humble."

「……」

"I admit, when I accepted your proposal, I was perhaps mostly motivated by the Lyon family's seat—but after careful thought, I am now certain: you are the best Prince I could ever find. If I let you slip away, I will regret it for the rest of my life."

After lavishing him with relentless praise and declaring her absolute determination to claim him, the Princess's expression darkened, her mood sinking:

"I know that unlike you—who has other choices—I only have you. To bind you to me so early, before you've truly chosen, might not be fair to you."

"But… but I truly don't want to miss this chance!"

Gazing into Li Ang's eyes, the Princess abandoned her earlier forceful demeanor; her bright eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she whispered softly:

"This is my one and only chance to choose a husband by my own heart. I admit—I used a few tricks just now—but I had no other way."

"When I heard you came here to break off the engagement, I panicked completely. My mind went blank, and I instinctively fell back on the only tactics I knew, trying to keep you…"

"I… Li Ang, please don't be angry with me? If you reject me, then I… I…"